Apple today unveiled new software for Apple TV that allows movie fans to rent movies on the iTunes Store directly from their widescreen TV, and lowered the price of Apple TV to $229. With iTunes Movie Rentals and Apple TV, users can just click a button on their remote to effortlessly rent movies from a catalog of over 1,000 titles by the end of February, including over 100 titles in high definition video with 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound, with no computer required. Apple TV connects to a broad range of widescreen TVs and home theater systems and comes standard with HDMI, component video, analog and optical audio ports. Using high-speed AirPort 802.11 wireless networking, Apple TV now automatically plays all of your iTunes content without setup or management. The company will provide the new Apple TV software free of charge to existing Apple TV owners when it releases the new Apple TV in about two weeks.

I was waiting for some announcement on the mini. I realy wanted a mini HTPC. This may be a workable solution for me. All my content is on my iMac and externals. I just need to get it to my TV. I can record through Eye TV and back up DVD's put them all into iTunes and stream away. I have questions about digital sound out of backups. But I can get an ATV and time capsule for the price of a new high end mini and have N-wireless to boot!